Test-plug.



R. s. Bly-LNsoN.

TEST PLUG'. y APPLICATION FILED JAN-2 4. |916. n

r1,212,886, Patented Jan.16,1917.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE. A

:aoiamrsmonn BENSON, or wEsT Panis, umn.

TEST-PLUG'.

To all 'whom it may concern Beit known' that I, ROBERT S. BENSON, a citizen of the United .States,ralidy a resident of Vest Paris,'in they county of Oxford and State vof"Maine,/have invented certain new and usefulv Improvements in 'Fest-Plugs,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates `to. ipe liliesy of' `various kinds-and classes5'an 'the nini-ii ob-y ject thereof isy to'v provide means in stalled at various points in `sucha line, 'or'in sections thereof, for facilitatingfthe, cleaning of such lines, testing for leaks, andthe like. My invention is l fully described in the followin specification, of which vthe accompanying drawings form a part, in which like characters refer to"'li kejparts in eachy of the views, and infwliich:-

Figure l is asection taken through' one embodiment of my invention, on thev line 1-'1 of Fig. 2;/Fig. 2-is a section takenony the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig.l 3 is a section taken through a modification, on ythe line 3 3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4`is` asection taken on tlieflinel-i of Fig. 3; Fig'. 5 is a vertical section of another modification; Fig. 6 1s 'a vertical section of another'modilication; Fig. 7 isa vertical sectionl of -v another modification;- Fig. y8 is a section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7; 9 is-a view of an ex-y tension which I may employ for buried pipe lines; and Fig. 10 is av vertical section taken through still another modification.

In'all, the forms shown, the device inf cludes apipe coupling 11. forming a com.-r

ponent and permanent part of-a pipe line and havingaport 12 at one side thereof in the manner of conventional. T-couplings, and also includes a plu y'whichlmay be of different forms but whic isin all instances yprovided with a 'passage connecting yeither end of therpassage through the couplingv with the outer plug end which may be in v' turn connected with a pump rfor one of .my devices and an adjacent devicey may have this outer plug end sealed when testing for leaks. i

For pipe cleansing, the .said adjacent de- -vice may be connected with a drainy pipe, and this operation, as well as the testing operation, may be successively accomplished for each portion of thepipe line. between the locations of my devices, whether on the main line or on branches, yit rbeing my intent to use a located.

Specification ot Letters Patent.

.Application med January 84, 1916." 'Serial Re. 78,8191,y 1 I 15 externally threaded laty 15 gageinent and for engagement with a pipe plurality ofthe ldevices suitably 'Patented Jan. 16, i917.

The form shown inFi'gspl and?. shows i y the -port 12 as internall screw threaded, or Tatlier the vflange' 13 t creci, to engage a sleeve 14 in communicationy with both the ends 1,1v and 1lbv of the coupling 11', fsaid sleeve being closed -=at' its lower end and seated'in a recess 11"y i"n the coupling and .open at its top'wliei'e it isfprovidedl ywith 'an internalV screwithiead 14,landi"the flange 13 of the coupling is externally screw threaded,

[as shown at 11, to engage a cap, not shown,

when the 'coupling is used only as a portion lof the pipe line.

Engaging the screw thread K14"A for such enor hose, not shown, leading to a pump-for is a'iplugy one of the plugs andv leading to a drain for an adjacent plug when the pipe line is being cleaned, or leading to a pump fory one of tlie plugs and engaging a cap, not shown, lfor an adjacent plug when the device is being ised as a test plug for a section of the pipe ine. Thelplug 15 is yprovided witha passage 15" lea ing downwardly from the top to a point adjacent the lower end where it con-v nects with ahorizontaly passage 15? opening into one end of the coupling,y 11 in the arrangement sliowii and, when a sectionof the pipe line between two adjacent plugs is to either cleaned ortested, they open ends of the passages 15 face each other, the plugs ,being Totatablymounted in the rrespective sleeves in order to connect the passages 15 thereof with couplings.

veither end of the respective In the form shown'y in Figs. 3 and 4 the coupling 11 is similar to that described but insteadof the sleeve and plug I provide a plug 16 threaded into the port"12 and rotatable therein, said plug having a passage 16* extending downwardly therethrough and being reduced in diameter at its lower end to provide a seat 16" for an impei'forate cup 1'2"4 seated in they recess 11" of the coupling and rota-table with the plug 16. one side of the cup 17 being weakened, as shownat 17, whereby the cup wall will be punctured at 'this side by' fluid under pressure, the weakcned portions of the plug cups facing ,another when a section of pipe line therebetween is to be either cleaned or tested.

The forni shown in Fig. 5 is essentially the same as that shown in Figs'l and 2 with the difference that I ,provide duplicate the coupling by means of a wedge-20'forced passages 15b and 15 in the plug 15 and each of which connects with an end 11 and 11h of the coupling, externally threaded branches 15d and 15e for engagement with pipes or hose lengths, not shown. This form is intended for use where it is not desirable to discontinue the supply of water or gas' on the branch 15e of said last named plug,

whereas the branch 15e ofthe first named plug may be connected,by a pipe or hose, with the branch 151 of the second plugbeyond said last named plug, thereby cutting out only the section between two adjacent plugs and bridging the pipe line thereover.

The form shown in Fig. 6 is similar to that shown in Fig. 5Y in principle and use, the structure differing in that I dispense with thesleeve 1l and form the plug of two similar members 18 and 19 having the passages 18a and 18", and 19a and 19'J therein, respectively, said members being locked in therebetween.

The form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 provides for an angular recess 21 in the coupling 22 for the reception of a plug 23 and a wedge 2l, said plug having the passages 23l and 23b and being reversible in the recess for connection with either end 22a or 22b of the coupling, the use being the same as dey scribed with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 9 I have shown an application of my invention to buried or submerged pipe lines, the flange 13 of the coupling 11 being surrounded by a tube 25 leading to the surface of the ground or water and provided with a cap 26 threaded on the top thereof, the coupling being shown as provided with a male plug 27 which may be removed when it is desired to insert any of the forms of plugs already described for testing or cleaning a section of the pipe line.

In Fi .10 is shown a modified form similar to Figs. 6 and 7 with Vthe difference that the recess 28 of the coupling 29 is normally larger than the recess 21 of the coupling 22 in Figs. 7 and 8 to receive a plug 30 and a wedge 31, the plug 30 having an outwardly directed passage 32 for use in the manner already described and having al supplemental passage 33 controlled by a valve 34 operable by means of a handle 35 exterior of the coupling and plug, said valve being closed when it is desired to clean a pipe line section and being opened4 for the normalA flow through said pipe line.

As stated, the principle yand use of all the.

forms are the same, to cut out a section of a `not limit myself thereto but may make lchanges thereover, providing that such changes arelwithin the spirit of'my invention and within the'scope of the appended claims.

Having fully Ydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. As an article of manufacture, for use in a pipe line lat intervals, a coupling having a longitudinal passage'therethrough and a port in the side thereof, a plug arranged laterally in said coupling and extended out- I wardly through said port, said plug having an axial passage extended inwardly from the outer end thereof and a transverse pas-1"'.A

sage connecting said axial passage with one' end of thelongitudinal passage in said coupling, and means on the exterior end of said plug for connection with a pipe or hose.

2. As an article of manufacture, for use in a pipe line at intervals, a coupling having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a port in the side thereof, and a recess diametrically opposite said port, a plugseated in said v recess and extended outwardly of said port, said plug having an'axial passage extended/inwardly from the outer end thereof and a transverse passage connecting said axial passage with one end of the longitudinal passage through said coupling, and means on the outer end of said plug for pipe or hose engagement.

3.r As an article of manufacture, for use in a pipe line at intervals, a coupling having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a port in the side thereof, a flange around said port and a recess diametrically opposite said port, said flange being screw threaded, a plug seated in said recess and extended outwardly of said port, said plug having an axial passage extended inwardly from the outer end thereof and a transverse passage connecting said axial passage with one end of the longitudinal passage through said coupling, and means on the outer end of said plug for pipe or hose engagement.`

4. As an article of manufacture, foruse in a pipe line at intervals, a coupling having a longitudinal passage therethrough, a port in the side thereof, and a recess diametrically opposite said port, a ported sleeve seated in said recess and extended through said port, a plug in said sleeve having an am'al passage extended from the outer end thereof'andv a transverse passage concess 1n the on the outer end of said ,plug Ifor pipe orv hose engagement.

5. As an 'article of manufacture, yfor use in a p'pe line at intervals, acoupling having a longitudinal passagetherethrough, a port in the side thereof, and an angular rerecess, a wedge for locking said plugin mi l. I y

lon, and means on the outer end plug in posit of Said plug for pipe or hose connection, said.

plug having anaxial passage and a transverse passage connecting said axial passagel with one end of the longitudinal passage v through said coupling.;

6. As'an article of manuacture, fory use in a pipe line at intervals, a coupling havmg a, longitudinal passage therethrough, a

port in the side thereof, andv arece dia--` metrically opposite said port, a plug in said recess and extended through said port, and

means on the outer end of said plug for pipe or hose connection, said plug having two axial paages fromr the kouter end-thereof terminating, each, in a. transverse passige opening into therespective end of the longitudinal passage in said coupling.

T. As an article of manufacture, for use in a pipe line at intervals, a coupling having a longitudinal paage therethrough, a port in the side thereof. and an angular rece in the. position of said port, yan yangular plug in said Vrecess composed of two members and a wedge therebetween. and lmeans osition of said port, an angular on the outer end oflsaid plug for pipe or hose connection, said members having, each,

anaxial passage anda transverse passagek connecting said axial paage with one end of the longitudinal passage through said coupling.

8. As an article of manufacture, for use in a pipeL line atintervals, a coupling yhaving a longitudinal passage therethrough, ak port at one side thereof, a tlangefaround said port, vand a recess diametrically opposite said port, a plug seated in said recess:v and 'ex-v tended outwardly of said port, means on they outer end of said plug for pipe or hose con-y one end of the passage through said coupling..and means on the outer end of mid tubular member for pipe or hose connection.

In testimony whereof I have signed 'my name to th1s specitication in the presence of two subscribln witnees.

ROBE T SANFORD BENSON. 'itnesses:

JOSEPH TV. CUnmNGs,

C. HOWARD LANE.

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